# NTSB BFO92LA057: Cessna 210M, N1411P, West Mifflin, PA, May 11, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 10, 1992, 20:35 local (May 11, 1992, 00:35 UTC)
- Place: West Mifflin, PA
- Coordinates: 40.360008, -79.899795 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3600&lon=-79.8998&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 2 minor
- Status: Completed, report June 11, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11783
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO92LA057
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11783/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO92LA057

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE UNRELIABLE FUEL QUANTITY GAUGES.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - vfr pattern - base leg/base to final
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion
  - engine instruments,fuel quantity gage - unreliable
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - emergency
  - object - vehicle

## Analysis

WHILE ON AN EXTENDED BASE LEG THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE LOST TOTAL POWER. THE AIRPLANE CRASHED JUST SHORT OF THE APPROACH END OF RUNWAY 31. THE ON SCENE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE AIRPLANE'S FUEL TANKS WERE EMPTY. THE 2 DAY CROSS COUNTRY WAS PLANNED FROM WEST MIFFLIN, PA, TO HATTERAS, NC, RETURNING TO WEST MIFFLIN ON THE FOLLOWING DAY. THE PILOT STATED THE TOTAL FLYING TIME FOR THIS CROSS COUNTRY JUST PRIOR TO THE ENGINE QUITTING, WAS 6.25 HOURS. THE PILOT STATED HE THOUGHT HE HAD 90 GALLONS OF FUEL ON BOARD BEFORE HE STARTED THE CROSS COUNTRY. THE PILOT STATED THE AIRPLANE'S GAUGES ALSO SHOWED THE AIRPLANE'S TANKS WERE FULL PRIOR TO THE DEPARTURE FROM WEST MIFFLIN. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE ANALOG FUEL QUANTITY GAUGE INDICATED, JUST PRIOR TO THE ENGINE QUITTING, THE LEFT FUEL TANK HAD A FEW GALLONS LEFT IN IT AND THE RIGHT FUEL TANK CONTAINED APPROXIMATELY 10-12 GALLONS. CESSNA PERFORMANCE CHARTS SHOW THAT FUEL CONSUMPTION COULD HAVE RANGED FROM 12.5 TO 16.1 GALLONS OF FUEL PER HOUR.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1411P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1411P-1992-11-03), registration cancelled 1992-11-03, S/N 21062080 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 210M
- Registry model: [Cessna 210M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-210m) (registry code 2073450) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 21062080
- Airframe hours: 4200
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-L-3A 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Phoenix Aviation
- Registered owner: Starship Aviation
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, January 2, 2000, 22 hours before
- Departed: 8W5, HATTERAS, NC
- Destination: AGC, WEST MIFFLIN, PA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 32; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 747 total, 7 in this make and model, 614 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: 70° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: AGC, 1 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19920511014009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920511014009A), May 11, 1992: Cessna 210, West Mifflin, PA, Destroyed. Lost power long base. Impacted short. Made long round trip sans refueling. Tanks empty. Fuel gauge errors.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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